Otherwise known as CMEs, coronal mass ejections are a solar phenomenon where the sun’s outer layer (the corona), expels a large amount of devastatingly hot radiation and plasma into outer space. CMEs occur when the sun’s constant stream of plasma churns and twists around itself, leading to the formation of magnetic knots. As these magnetic knots develop, they build up massive amounts of energy, forcing them to break off and hurl into space, potentially toward earth. So, why don’t we typically notice such an event? If you remember back to our blog discussing the magnetic fields of our solar system, earth’s magnetic field protects our planet from harmful particles, similar to the concept of how an umbrella protects its user from rain. Earth’s magnetic field absorbs the blast of CMEs and other solar events and deflects the particles to the North and South poles, leading to brilliant aurora light displays.  If, however, a solar storm is large enough, the earth could experience devastating effects such as electricity and radio blackouts, or even the complete destruction of the power grid entirely. Although unlikely, similar events have occurred in the past, providing insight into what the future may hold. In 1859, The Carrington Event, otherwise known as the largest solar hurricane on record, hit the earth. However, the effects were minor with almost no modern technology at the time. Quebec was not as fortunate in 1989 when a geometric storm hit, resulting in the failure of their power grid. Most recently, in 2012, a solar hurricane as powerful as The Carrington Event narrowly missed earth to the relief of engineers everywhere.  

Preventing Devastating Effects On Our Planet 

Although we cannot prevent solar storms, we can prevent the majority of their devastating side effects. Engineers and physicists are experts at predicting the likelihood of solar storms and implementing preventative measures like taking transformers and substations offline to avoid the shockwave of electricity that could permanently damage the system. With the inevitable reality that solar storms will continue to collide with the earth, engineers are working to take a proactive approach to enhance our power grid, ensuring we are well equipped to manage these storms with minimal impacts on daily life. 

Explore The Vast Implications Of Magnetism In Our Solar System At Our Blog 

Magnets affect nearly every facet of our universe, from their implications in protecting our planet from dangerous solar storms to their invaluable use in life-saving medical devices, our world depends on their unique properties. Harness the power of magnets for your business, home, or school when you visit our website. Have a question? Contact us anytime for expert advice!